diff --git a/.eslintrc.yml b/.eslintrc.yml
index 369a4fec..f5694193 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.yml
+++ b/.eslintrc.yml
@@ -222,8 +222,7 @@ rules:
     - error
     - max: 1
   multiline-ternary:
-    - error
-    - never
+    - off
   newline-per-chained-call:
     - off
   no-bitwise:
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 21f52c7c..2e5d4c5e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -560,7 +560,6 @@ test-gui:
 test-sdk:
 	electron-mocha $(MOCHA_OPTIONS) \
 		tests/shared \
-		tests/child-writer \
 		tests/image-stream
 
 test: test-gui test-sdk test-spectron
diff --git a/lib/child-writer/README.md b/lib/child-writer/README.md
deleted file mode 100644
index ad00ffbe..00000000
--- a/lib/child-writer/README.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,69 +0,0 @@
-Etcher Child Writer
-===================
-
-This module is in charge of dealing with the gory details of elevating and
-managing the child writer process. As a word of warning, it contains tons of
-workarounds and "hacks" to deal with platform differences, packaging, and
-inter-process communication. This empowers us to write this small guide to
-explain how it works in a more high level manner, hoping to make it easier to
-grok for contributors.
-
-The problem
------------
-
-Elevating a forked process is an easy task. Thanks to the widely available NPM
-modules to display nice GUI prompt dialogs, elevation is just a matter of
-executing the process with one of those modules instead of with `child_process`
-directly.
-
-The main problems we faced are:
-
-- The modules that implement elevation provide "execution" support, but don't
-  allow us to fork/spawn the process and consume its `stdout` and `stderr` in a
-  stream fashion. This also means that we can't use the nice `process.send` IPC
-  communication channel directly that `child_process.fork` gives us to send
-  messages back to the parent.
-
-- Since we can't assume anything from the environment Etcher is running on, we
-  must make use of the same application entry point to execute both the GUI and
-  the CLI code, which starts to get messy once we throw `asar` packaging into
-  the mix.
-
-- Each elevation mechanism has its quirks, mainly on GNU/Linux. Making sure
-  that the forked process was elevated correctly and could work without issues
-  required various workarounds targeting `pkexec` or `kdesudo`.
-
-How it works
-------------
-
-The Etcher binary runs in CLI or GUI mode depending on an environment variable
-called `ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE`. When this variable is set, it instructs Electron
-to run as a normal NodeJS process (without Chromium, etc), but still keep any
-patches applied by Electron, like `asar` support.
-
-When the Etcher GUI is ran, and the user presses the "Flash!" button, the GUI
-creates an IPC server, and forks a process called the "writer proxy", passing
-it all the required information to perform the flashing, such as the image
-path, the device path, the current settings, etc.
-
-The writer proxy then checks if its currently elevated, and if not, prompts the
-user for elevation and re-spawns itself.
-
-Once the writer proxy has enough permissions to directly access devices, it
-spawns the Etcher CLI passing the `--robot` option along with all the
-information gathered before. The `--robot` option basically tells the Etcher
-CLI to output state information in a way that can be very easily parsed by the
-parent process.
-
-The output of the Etcher CLI is then sent to the IPC server that was opened by
-the GUI, which nicely displays them in the progress bar the user sees.
-
-Summary
--------
-
-There are lots of details we're omitting for the sake of clarity. Feel free to
-dive in inside the child writer code, which is heavily commented to explain the
-reasons behind each decision or workaround.
-
-Don't hesitate in getting in touch if you have any suggestion, or just want to
-know more!
diff --git a/lib/child-writer/cli.js b/lib/child-writer/cli.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 7f61bef2..00000000
--- a/lib/child-writer/cli.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,100 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-const _ = require('lodash')
-
-/**
- * @summary Get the explicit boolean form of an argument
- * @function
- * @private
- *
- * @description
- * We refer as "explicit boolean form of an argument" to a boolean
- * argument in either normal or negated form.
- *
- * For example: `--check` and `--no-check`;
- *
- * @param {String} argumentName - argument name
- * @param {Boolean} value - argument value
- * @returns {String} argument
- *
- * @example
- * console.log(cli.getBooleanArgumentForm('check', true));
- * > '--check'
- *
- * @example
- * console.log(cli.getBooleanArgumentForm('check', false));
- * > '--no-check'
- */
-exports.getBooleanArgumentForm = (argumentName, value) => {
-  const prefix = _.attempt(() => {
-    if (!value) {
-      return '--no-'
-    }
-
-    const SHORT_OPTION_LENGTH = 1
-    if (_.size(argumentName) === SHORT_OPTION_LENGTH) {
-      return '-'
-    }
-
-    return '--'
-  })
-
-  return prefix + argumentName
-}
-
-/**
- * @summary Get CLI writer arguments
- * @function
- * @public
- *
- * @param {Object} options - options
- * @param {String} options.image - image
- * @param {String} options.device - device
- * @param {String} options.entryPoint - entry point
- * @param {Boolean} [options.validateWriteOnSuccess] - validate write on success
- * @param {Boolean} [options.unmountOnSuccess] - unmount on success
- * @returns {String[]} arguments
- *
- * @example
- * const argv = cli.getArguments({
- *   image: 'path/to/rpi.img',
- *   device: '/dev/disk2'
- *   entryPoint: 'path/to/app.asar',
- *   validateWriteOnSuccess: true,
- *   unmountOnSuccess: true
- * });
- */
-exports.getArguments = (options) => {
-  const argv = [
-    options.entryPoint,
-    options.image,
-    '--drive',
-    options.device,
-
-    // Explicitly set the boolean flag in positive
-    // or negative way in order to be on the safe
-    // side in case the Etcher CLI changes the
-    // default value of these options.
-    exports.getBooleanArgumentForm('unmount', options.unmountOnSuccess),
-    exports.getBooleanArgumentForm('check', options.validateWriteOnSuccess)
-
-  ]
-
-  return argv
-}
diff --git a/lib/child-writer/constants.js b/lib/child-writer/constants.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 9301d7c0..00000000
--- a/lib/child-writer/constants.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-const path = require('path')
-const os = require('os')
-
-/**
- * @summary Child writer constants
- * @namespace CONSTANTS
- * @public
- */
-module.exports = {
-
-  /**
-   * @property {String} TMP_DIRECTORY
-   * @memberof CONSTANTS
-   * @constant
-   */
-  TMP_DIRECTORY: path.join(process.env.XDG_RUNTIME_DIR || os.tmpdir(), path.sep),
-
-  /**
-   * @property {String} PROJECT_ROOT
-   * @memberof CONSTANTS
-   */
-  PROJECT_ROOT: path.join(__dirname, '..', '..'),
-
-  /**
-   * @property {String} WRITER_PROXY_SCRIPT
-   * @memberof CONSTANTS
-   */
-  WRITER_PROXY_SCRIPT: path.join(__dirname, 'writer-proxy.js')
-
-}
diff --git a/lib/child-writer/index.js b/lib/child-writer/index.js
deleted file mode 100644
index e627e20b..00000000
--- a/lib/child-writer/index.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,223 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-const EventEmitter = require('events').EventEmitter
-const _ = require('lodash')
-const childProcess = require('child_process')
-const ipc = require('node-ipc')
-const rendererUtils = require('./renderer-utils')
-const cli = require('./cli')
-const CONSTANTS = require('./constants')
-const EXIT_CODES = require('../shared/exit-codes')
-const robot = require('../shared/robot')
-
-// There might be multiple Etcher instances running at
-// the same time, therefore we must ensure each IPC
-// server/client has a different name.
-process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID = `etcher-server-${process.pid}`
-process.env.IPC_CLIENT_ID = `etcher-client-${process.pid}`
-
-ipc.config.id = process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID
-ipc.config.socketRoot = CONSTANTS.TMP_DIRECTORY
-ipc.config.silent = true
-
-/**
- * @summary Perform a write
- * @function
- * @public
- *
- * @param {String} image - image
- * @param {Object} drive - drive
- * @param {Object} options - options
- * @returns {EventEmitter} event emitter
- *
- * @example
- * const child = childWriter.write('path/to/rpi.img', {
- *   device: '/dev/disk2'
- * }, {
- *   validateWriteOnSuccess: true,
- *   unmountOnSuccess: true
- * });
- *
- * child.on('progress', (state) => {
- *   console.log(state);
- * });
- *
- * child.on('error', (error) => {
- *   throw error;
- * });
- *
- * child.on('done', () => {
- *   console.log('Validation was successful!');
- * });
- */
-exports.write = (image, drive, options) => {
-  const emitter = new EventEmitter()
-
-  const argv = cli.getArguments({
-    entryPoint: rendererUtils.getApplicationEntryPoint(),
-    image,
-    device: drive.device,
-    validateWriteOnSuccess: options.validateWriteOnSuccess,
-    unmountOnSuccess: options.unmountOnSuccess
-  })
-
-  ipc.serve()
-
-  /**
-   * @summary Safely terminate the IPC server
-   * @function
-   * @private
-   *
-   * @example
-   * terminateServer();
-   */
-  const terminateServer = () => {
-    // Turns out we need to destroy all sockets for
-    // the server to actually close. Otherwise, it
-    // just stops receiving any further connections,
-    // but remains open if there are active ones.
-    _.each(ipc.server.sockets, (socket) => {
-      socket.destroy()
-    })
-
-    ipc.server.stop()
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * @summary Emit an error to the client
-   * @function
-   * @private
-   *
-   * @param {Error} error - error
-   *
-   * @example
-   * emitError(new Error('foo bar'));
-   */
-  const emitError = (error) => {
-    terminateServer()
-    emitter.emit('error', error)
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * @summary Bridge robot message to the child writer caller
-   * @function
-   * @private
-   *
-   * @param {String} message - robot message
-   *
-   * @example
-   * bridgeRobotMessage(robot.buildMessage('foo', {
-   *   bar: 'baz'
-   * }));
-   */
-  const bridgeRobotMessage = (message) => {
-    const parsedMessage = _.attempt(() => {
-      if (robot.isMessage(message)) {
-        return robot.parseMessage(message)
-      }
-
-      // Don't be so strict. If a message doesn't look like
-      // a robot message, then make the child writer log it
-      // for debugging purposes.
-      return robot.parseMessage(robot.buildMessage(robot.COMMAND.LOG, {
-        message
-      }))
-    })
-
-    if (_.isError(parsedMessage)) {
-      emitError(parsedMessage)
-      return
-    }
-
-    try {
-      // These are lighweight accessor methods for
-      // the properties of the parsed message
-      const messageCommand = robot.getCommand(parsedMessage)
-      const messageData = robot.getData(parsedMessage)
-
-      // The error object is decomposed by the CLI for serialisation
-      // purposes. We compose it back to an `Error` here in order
-      // to provide better encapsulation.
-      if (messageCommand === robot.COMMAND.ERROR) {
-        emitError(robot.recomposeErrorMessage(parsedMessage))
-      } else if (messageCommand === robot.COMMAND.LOG) {
-        // If the message data is an object and it contains a
-        // message string then log the message string only.
-        if (_.isPlainObject(messageData) && _.isString(messageData.message)) {
-          console.log(messageData.message)
-        } else {
-          console.log(messageData)
-        }
-      } else {
-        emitter.emit(messageCommand, messageData)
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      emitError(error)
-    }
-  }
-
-  ipc.server.on('error', emitError)
-  ipc.server.on('message', bridgeRobotMessage)
-
-  ipc.server.on('start', () => {
-    const child = childProcess.fork(CONSTANTS.WRITER_PROXY_SCRIPT, argv, {
-      silent: true,
-      env: process.env
-    })
-
-    child.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
-      console.info(`WRITER: ${data.toString()}`)
-    })
-
-    child.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
-      bridgeRobotMessage(data.toString())
-
-      // This function causes the `close` event to be emitted
-      child.kill()
-    })
-
-    child.on('error', emitError)
-
-    child.on('exit', (code, signal) => {
-      terminateServer()
-
-      if (code === EXIT_CODES.CANCELLED) {
-        return emitter.emit('done', {
-          cancelled: true
-        })
-      }
-
-      // We shouldn't emit the `done` event manually here
-      // since the writer process will take care of it.
-      if (code === EXIT_CODES.SUCCESS || code === EXIT_CODES.VALIDATION_ERROR) {
-        return null
-      }
-
-      const error = new Error(`Child process exited with code ${code}, signal ${signal}`)
-      error.code = code
-      error.signal = signal
-
-      return emitError(error)
-    })
-  })
-
-  ipc.server.start()
-
-  return emitter
-}
diff --git a/lib/child-writer/renderer-utils.js b/lib/child-writer/renderer-utils.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 9dba0d07..00000000
--- a/lib/child-writer/renderer-utils.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-/**
- * This file is only meant to be loaded by the renderer process.
- */
-
-const path = require('path')
-const isRunningInAsar = require('electron-is-running-in-asar')
-const electron = require('electron')
-const CONSTANTS = require('./constants')
-
-/**
- * @summary Get application entry point
- * @function
- * @public
- *
- * @returns {String} entry point
- *
- * @example
- * const entryPoint = rendererUtils.getApplicationEntryPoint();
- */
-exports.getApplicationEntryPoint = () => {
-  if (isRunningInAsar()) {
-    return path.join(process.resourcesPath, 'app.asar')
-  }
-
-  const ENTRY_POINT_ARGV_INDEX = 1
-  const relativeEntryPoint = electron.remote.process.argv[ENTRY_POINT_ARGV_INDEX]
-
-  return path.join(CONSTANTS.PROJECT_ROOT, relativeEntryPoint)
-}
diff --git a/lib/child-writer/utils.js b/lib/child-writer/utils.js
deleted file mode 100644
index fc3b14ec..00000000
--- a/lib/child-writer/utils.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-const _ = require('lodash')
-
-/**
- * @summary Split stringified object lines
- * @function
- * @public
- *
- * @description
- * This function takes special care to not consider new lines
- * inside the object properties.
- *
- * @param {String} lines - lines
- * @returns {String[]} split lines
- *
- * @example
- * const result = utils.splitObjectLines('{"foo":"bar"}\n{"hello":"Hello\nWorld"}');
- * console.log(result);
- *
- * > [ '{"foo":"bar"}', '{"hello":"Hello\nWorld"}' ]
- */
-exports.splitObjectLines = (lines) => {
-  return _.chain(lines)
-    .split(/((?:[^\n"']|"[^"]*"|'[^']*')+)/)
-    .map(_.trim)
-    .reject(_.isEmpty)
-    .value()
-}
diff --git a/lib/child-writer/writer-proxy.js b/lib/child-writer/writer-proxy.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 1bb5e2ce..00000000
--- a/lib/child-writer/writer-proxy.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,215 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-const Bluebird = require('bluebird')
-const childProcess = require('child_process')
-const ipc = require('node-ipc')
-const _ = require('lodash')
-const os = require('os')
-const path = require('path')
-const utils = require('./utils')
-const EXIT_CODES = require('../shared/exit-codes')
-const robot = require('../shared/robot')
-const permissions = require('../shared/permissions')
-const packageJSON = require('../../package.json')
-const CONSTANTS = require('./constants')
-
-/* eslint-disable no-eq-null */
-
-// This script is in charge of spawning the writer process and
-// ensuring it has the necessary privileges. It might look a bit
-// complex at first sight, but this is only because elevation
-// modules don't work in a spawn/fork fashion.
-//
-// This script spawns the writer process and redirects its `stdout`
-// and `stderr` to the parent process using IPC communication,
-// taking care of the writer elevation as needed.
-
-/**
- * @summary The Etcher executable file path
- * @constant
- * @private
- * @type {String}
- */
-const executable = _.first(process.argv)
-
-/**
- * @summary The first index that represents an actual option argument
- * @constant
- * @private
- * @type {Number}
- *
- * @description
- * The first arguments are usually the program executable itself, etc.
- */
-const OPTIONS_INDEX_START = 2
-
-/**
- * @summary The list of Etcher argument options
- * @constant
- * @private
- * @type {String[]}
- */
-const etcherArguments = process.argv.slice(OPTIONS_INDEX_START)
-
-ipc.config.id = process.env.IPC_CLIENT_ID
-ipc.config.socketRoot = CONSTANTS.TMP_DIRECTORY
-ipc.config.silent = true
-
-// > If set to 0, the client will NOT try to reconnect.
-// See https://github.com/RIAEvangelist/node-ipc/
-//
-// The purpose behind this change is for this process
-// to emit a "disconnect" event as soon as the GUI
-// process is closed, so we can kill the CLI as well.
-ipc.config.stopRetrying = 0
-
-permissions.isElevated().then((elevated) => {
-  if (!elevated) {
-    console.log('Attempting to elevate')
-
-    const commandArguments = _.attempt(() => {
-      if (os.platform() === 'linux' && process.env.APPIMAGE && process.env.APPDIR) {
-        // Translate the current arguments to point to the AppImage
-        // Relative paths are resolved from `/tmp/.mount_XXXXXX/usr`
-        const translatedArguments = _.chain(process.argv)
-          .tail()
-          .invokeMap('replace', path.join(process.env.APPDIR, 'usr/'), '')
-          .value()
-
-        return _.concat([ process.env.APPIMAGE ], translatedArguments)
-      }
-
-      return process.argv
-    })
-
-    // For debugging purposes
-    console.log(`Running: ${commandArguments.join(' ')}`)
-
-    const commandEnv = {
-      PATH: process.env.PATH,
-      DEBUG: process.env.DEBUG,
-      XDG_RUNTIME_DIR: process.env.XDG_RUNTIME_DIR,
-      ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE: 1,
-      IPC_SERVER_ID: process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID,
-      IPC_CLIENT_ID: process.env.IPC_CLIENT_ID,
-
-      // This environment variable prevents the AppImages
-      // desktop integration script from presenting the
-      // "installation" dialog.
-      SKIP: 1
-    }
-
-    return permissions.elevateCommand(commandArguments, {
-      applicationName: packageJSON.displayName,
-      environment: commandEnv
-    }).then((results) => {
-      if (results.cancelled) {
-        process.exit(EXIT_CODES.CANCELLED)
-      }
-    })
-  }
-
-  console.log('Re-spawning with elevation')
-
-  return new Bluebird((resolve, reject) => {
-    let child = null
-
-    /**
-     * @summary Emit an object message to the IPC server
-     * @function
-     * @private
-     *
-     * @param {Buffer} data - json message data
-     *
-     * @example
-     * emitMessage(Buffer.from(JSON.stringify({
-     *   foo: 'bar'
-     * })));
-     */
-    const emitMessage = (data) => {
-      // Output from stdout/stderr coming from the CLI might be buffered,
-      // causing several progress lines to come up at once as single message.
-      // Trying to parse multiple JSON objects separated by new lines will
-      // of course make the parser confused, causing errors later on.
-      _.each(utils.splitObjectLines(data.toString()), (object) => {
-        ipc.of[process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID].emit('message', object)
-      })
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @summary Emit an error message over the IPC and shut down the child
-     * @function
-     * @private
-     * @param {Error} error - error
-     * @example
-     * onError(error)
-     */
-    const onError = (error) => {
-      ipc.of[process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID].emit('message', {
-        error: error.message,
-        data: error.stack
-      })
-      child && child.kill()
-      reject(error)
-    }
-
-    ipc.connectTo(process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID, () => {
-      ipc.of[process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID].on('error', onError)
-      ipc.of[process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID].on('disconnect', () => {
-        onError(new Error('Writer process disconnected'))
-      })
-
-      ipc.of[process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID].on('connect', () => {
-        // Inherit the parent evnironment
-        const childEnv = _.assign({}, process.env, {
-          ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE: 1,
-          ETCHER_CLI_ROBOT: 1,
-
-          // Enable extra logging from mountutils
-          // See https://github.com/resin-io-modules/mountutils
-          MOUNTUTILS_DEBUG: 1
-        })
-
-        child = childProcess.spawn(executable, etcherArguments, {
-          env: childEnv
-        })
-
-        child.on('error', onError)
-        child.on('exit', (code, signal) => {
-          if (code != null && signal == null) {
-            resolve(code)
-          } else {
-            const error = new Error(`Exited with code ${code}, signal ${signal}`)
-            error.code = code
-            error.signal = signal
-            reject(error)
-          }
-        })
-
-        child.stdout.on('data', emitMessage)
-        child.stderr.on('data', emitMessage)
-      })
-    })
-  }).then((exitCode) => {
-    process.exit(exitCode)
-  })
-}).catch((error) => {
-  robot.printError(error)
-  process.exit(EXIT_CODES.GENERAL_ERROR)
-})
diff --git a/lib/cli/README.md b/lib/cli/README.md
index 8c0f7b94..49b46eb4 100644
--- a/lib/cli/README.md
+++ b/lib/cli/README.md
@@ -9,30 +9,7 @@ This module also has the task of unmounting the drives before and after
 flashing.
 
 Notice the Etcher CLI is not worried about elevation, and assumes it has enough
-permissions to continue, throwing an error otherwise. Consult the
-[`lib/child-writer`][child-writer] module to understand how elevation works on
-Etcher.
-
-The robot option
-----------------
-
-Setting the `ETCHER_CLI_ROBOT` environment variable allows other applications
-to easily consume the output of the Etcher CLI in real-time. When using the
-`ETCHER_CLI_ROBOT` option, the `--yes` option is implicit, therefore you need
-to manually specify `--drive`.
-
-When `ETCHER_CLI_ROBOT` is used, the program will output JSON lines containing
-the progress state and other useful information. For example:
-
-```
-$ sudo ETCHER_CLI_ROBOT=1 etcher image.iso --drive /dev/disk2
-{"command":"progress","data":{"type":"write","percentage":1,"eta":130,"speed":1703936}}
-...
-{"command":"progress","data":{"type":"check","percentage":100,"eta":0,"speed":17180514}}
-{"command":"done","data":{"sourceChecksum":"27c39a5d"}}
-```
-
-See documentation about the robot mode at [`lib/shared/robot`][robot].
+permissions to continue, throwing an error otherwise.
 
 Exit codes
 ----------
@@ -42,5 +19,3 @@ These are documented in [`lib/shared/exit-codes.js`][exit-codes] and are also
 printed on the Etcher CLI help page.
 
 [exit-codes]: https://github.com/resin-io/etcher/blob/master/lib/shared/exit-codes.js
-[robot]: https://github.com/resin-io/etcher/tree/master/lib/shared/robot
-[child-writer]: https://github.com/resin-io/etcher/tree/master/lib/child-writer
diff --git a/lib/cli/etcher.js b/lib/cli/etcher.js
index 5aa1f3eb..8d127a14 100644
--- a/lib/cli/etcher.js
+++ b/lib/cli/etcher.js
@@ -16,16 +16,13 @@
 
 'use strict'
 
-const _ = require('lodash')
 const path = require('path')
 const Bluebird = require('bluebird')
 const visuals = require('resin-cli-visuals')
 const form = require('resin-cli-form')
-const drivelist = Bluebird.promisifyAll(require('drivelist'))
 const writer = require('./writer')
 const utils = require('./utils')
 const options = require('./options')
-const robot = require('../shared/robot')
 const messages = require('../shared/messages')
 const EXIT_CODES = require('../shared/exit-codes')
 const errors = require('../shared/errors')
@@ -61,7 +58,7 @@ permissions.isElevated().then((elevated) => {
       // If `options.yes` is `false`, pass `null`,
       // otherwise the question will not be asked because
       // `false` is a defined value.
-      yes: robot.isEnabled(process.env) || options.yes || null
+      yes: options.yes || null
 
     }
   })
@@ -78,55 +75,26 @@ permissions.isElevated().then((elevated) => {
     check: new visuals.Progress('Validating')
   }
 
-  return drivelist.listAsync().then((drives) => {
-    const selectedDrive = _.find(drives, {
-      device: answers.drive
-    })
-
-    if (!selectedDrive) {
-      throw errors.createUserError({
-        title: 'The selected drive was not found',
-        description: `We can't find ${answers.drive} in your system. Did you unplug the drive?`
-      })
+  return writer.writeImage(imagePath, answers.drive, {
+    unmountOnSuccess: options.unmount,
+    validateWriteOnSuccess: options.check
+  }, (state) => {
+    progressBars[state.type].update(state)
+  }).then((results) => {
+    return {
+      imagePath,
+      flash: results
     }
-
-    return writer.writeImage(imagePath, selectedDrive, {
-      unmountOnSuccess: options.unmount,
-      validateWriteOnSuccess: options.check
-    }, (state) => {
-      if (robot.isEnabled(process.env)) {
-        robot.printMessage('progress', {
-          type: state.type,
-          percentage: Math.floor(state.percentage),
-          eta: state.eta,
-          speed: Math.floor(state.speed)
-        })
-      } else {
-        progressBars[state.type].update(state)
-      }
-    }).then((results) => {
-      return {
-        imagePath,
-        flash: results,
-        drive: selectedDrive
-      }
-    })
   })
 }).then((results) => {
   return Bluebird.try(() => {
-    if (robot.isEnabled(process.env)) {
-      return robot.printMessage('done', {
-        sourceChecksum: results.flash.sourceChecksum
-      })
-    }
-
     console.log(messages.info.flashComplete({
-      drive: results.drive,
+      drive: results.flash.drive,
       imageBasename: path.basename(results.imagePath)
     }))
 
-    if (results.flash.sourceChecksum) {
-      console.log(`Checksum: ${results.flash.sourceChecksum}`)
+    if (results.flash.checksum.crc32) {
+      console.log(`Checksum: ${results.flash.checksum.crc32}`)
     }
 
     return Bluebird.resolve()
@@ -135,10 +103,6 @@ permissions.isElevated().then((elevated) => {
   })
 }).catch((error) => {
   return Bluebird.try(() => {
-    if (robot.isEnabled(process.env)) {
-      return robot.printError(error)
-    }
-
     utils.printError(error)
     return Bluebird.resolve()
   }).then(() => {
diff --git a/lib/cli/options.js b/lib/cli/options.js
index 0dda5b84..d74f5b96 100644
--- a/lib/cli/options.js
+++ b/lib/cli/options.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ const _ = require('lodash')
 const fs = require('fs')
 const yargs = require('yargs')
 const utils = require('./utils')
-const robot = require('../shared/robot')
 const EXIT_CODES = require('../shared/exit-codes')
 const errors = require('../shared/errors')
 const packageJSON = require('../../package.json')
@@ -97,13 +96,8 @@ module.exports = yargs
       title: message
     })
 
-    if (robot.isEnabled(process.env)) {
-      robot.printError(errorObject)
-    } else {
-      yargs.showHelp()
-      utils.printError(errorObject)
-    }
-
+    yargs.showHelp()
+    utils.printError(errorObject)
     process.exit(EXIT_CODES.GENERAL_ERROR)
   })
 
@@ -123,17 +117,6 @@ module.exports = yargs
     return true
   })
 
-  .check((argv) => {
-    if (robot.isEnabled(process.env) && !argv.drive) {
-      throw errors.createUserError({
-        title: 'Missing drive',
-        description: 'You need to explicitly pass a drive when enabling robot mode'
-      })
-    }
-
-    return true
-  })
-
   // Assert that if the `yes` flag is provided, the `drive` flag is also provided.
   .check((argv) => {
     if (argv.yes && !argv.drive) {
diff --git a/lib/cli/writer.js b/lib/cli/writer.js
index 173d7dcb..22e63ea9 100644
--- a/lib/cli/writer.js
+++ b/lib/cli/writer.js
@@ -16,14 +16,16 @@
 
 'use strict'
 
-const ImageWriter = require('../writer')
+const _ = require('lodash')
 const Bluebird = require('bluebird')
 const fs = Bluebird.promisifyAll(require('fs'))
 const mountutils = Bluebird.promisifyAll(require('mountutils'))
+const drivelist = Bluebird.promisifyAll(require('drivelist'))
 const os = require('os')
 const imageStream = require('../image-stream')
 const errors = require('../shared/errors')
 const constraints = require('../shared/drive-constraints')
+const ImageWriter = require('../writer')
 const diskpart = require('./diskpart')
 
 /**
@@ -38,12 +40,8 @@ const UNMOUNT_ON_SUCCESS_TIMEOUT_MS = 2000
  * @function
  * @public
  *
- * @description
- * See https://github.com/resin-io-modules/etcher-image-write for information
- * about the `state` object passed to `onProgress` callback.
- *
  * @param {String} imagePath - path to image
- * @param {Object} drive - drive
+ * @param {String} drive - drive
  * @param {Object} options - options
  * @param {Boolean} [options.unmountOnSuccess=false] - unmount on success
  * @param {Boolean} [options.validateWriteOnSuccess=false] - validate write on success
@@ -53,9 +51,7 @@ const UNMOUNT_ON_SUCCESS_TIMEOUT_MS = 2000
  * @returns {Promise}
  *
  * @example
- * writer.writeImage('path/to/image.img', {
- *   device: '/dev/disk2'
- * }, {
+ * writer.writeImage('path/to/image.img', '/dev/disk2', {
  *   unmountOnSuccess: true,
  *   validateWriteOnSuccess: true
  * }, (state) => {
@@ -65,67 +61,86 @@ const UNMOUNT_ON_SUCCESS_TIMEOUT_MS = 2000
  * });
  */
 exports.writeImage = (imagePath, drive, options, onProgress) => {
-  return Bluebird.try(() => {
-    // Unmounting a drive in Windows means we can't write to it anymore
-    if (os.platform() === 'win32') {
-      return Bluebird.resolve()
+  return drivelist.listAsync().then((drives) => {
+    const selectedDrive = _.find(drives, {
+      device: drive
+    })
+
+    if (!selectedDrive) {
+      throw errors.createUserError({
+        title: 'The selected drive was not found',
+        description: `We can't find ${drive} in your system. Did you unplug the drive?`,
+        code: 'EUNPLUGGED'
+      })
     }
 
-    return mountutils.unmountDiskAsync(drive.device)
-  }).then(() => {
-    return diskpart.clean(drive.device)
-  }).then(() => {
-    /* eslint-disable no-bitwise */
-    const flags = fs.constants.O_RDWR |
-      fs.constants.O_EXCL |
-      fs.constants.O_NONBLOCK |
-      fs.constants.O_SYNC |
-      fs.constants.O_DIRECT
-    /* eslint-enable no-bitwise */
-
-    return fs.openAsync(drive.raw, flags)
-  }).then((driveFileDescriptor) => {
-    return imageStream.getFromFilePath(imagePath).then((image) => {
-      if (!constraints.isDriveLargeEnough(drive, image)) {
-        throw errors.createUserError({
-          title: 'The image you selected is too big for this drive',
-          description: 'Please connect a bigger drive and try again'
-        })
+    return selectedDrive
+  }).then((driveObject) => {
+    return Bluebird.try(() => {
+      // Unmounting a drive in Windows means we can't write to it anymore
+      if (os.platform() === 'win32') {
+        return Bluebird.resolve()
       }
 
-      const writer = new ImageWriter({
-        image,
-        fd: driveFileDescriptor,
-        path: drive.raw,
-        verify: options.validateWriteOnSuccess,
-        checksumAlgorithms: [ 'crc32' ]
-      })
+      return mountutils.unmountDiskAsync(driveObject.device)
+    }).then(() => {
+      return diskpart.clean(driveObject.device)
+    }).then(() => {
+      /* eslint-disable no-bitwise */
+      const flags = fs.constants.O_RDWR |
+        fs.constants.O_EXCL |
+        fs.constants.O_NONBLOCK |
+        fs.constants.O_SYNC |
+        fs.constants.O_DIRECT
+      /* eslint-enable no-bitwise */
 
-      return writer.write()
-    }).then((writer) => {
-      return new Bluebird((resolve, reject) => {
-        writer.on('progress', onProgress)
-        writer.on('error', reject)
-        writer.on('finish', resolve)
-      })
-    }).tap(() => {
-      // Make sure the device stream file descriptor is closed
-      // before returning control the the caller. Not closing
-      // the file descriptor (and waiting for it) results in
-      // `EBUSY` errors when attempting to unmount the drive
-      // right afterwards in some Windows 7 systems.
-      return fs.closeAsync(driveFileDescriptor).then(() => {
-        if (!options.unmountOnSuccess) {
-          return Bluebird.resolve()
+      return fs.openAsync(driveObject.raw, flags)
+    }).then((driveFileDescriptor) => {
+      return imageStream.getFromFilePath(imagePath).then((image) => {
+        if (!constraints.isDriveLargeEnough(driveObject, image)) {
+          throw errors.createUserError({
+            title: 'The image you selected is too big for this drive',
+            description: 'Please connect a bigger drive and try again'
+          })
         }
 
-        // Closing a file descriptor on a drive containing mountable
-        // partitions causes macOS to mount the drive. If we try to
-        // unmount to quickly, then the drive might get re-mounted
-        // right afterwards.
-        return Bluebird.delay(UNMOUNT_ON_SUCCESS_TIMEOUT_MS)
-          .return(drive.device)
-          .then(mountutils.unmountDiskAsync)
+        const writer = new ImageWriter({
+          image,
+          fd: driveFileDescriptor,
+          path: driveObject.raw,
+          verify: options.validateWriteOnSuccess,
+          checksumAlgorithms: [ 'crc32' ]
+        })
+
+        return writer.write()
+      }).then((writer) => {
+        return new Bluebird((resolve, reject) => {
+          writer.on('progress', onProgress)
+          writer.on('error', reject)
+          writer.on('finish', (results) => {
+            results.drive = driveObject
+            resolve(results)
+          })
+        })
+      }).tap(() => {
+        // Make sure the device stream file descriptor is closed
+        // before returning control the the caller. Not closing
+        // the file descriptor (and waiting for it) results in
+        // `EBUSY` errors when attempting to unmount the drive
+        // right afterwards in some Windows 7 systems.
+        return fs.closeAsync(driveFileDescriptor).then(() => {
+          if (!options.unmountOnSuccess) {
+            return Bluebird.resolve()
+          }
+
+          // Closing a file descriptor on a drive containing mountable
+          // partitions causes macOS to mount the drive. If we try to
+          // unmount to quickly, then the drive might get re-mounted
+          // right afterwards.
+          return Bluebird.delay(UNMOUNT_ON_SUCCESS_TIMEOUT_MS)
+            .return(driveObject.device)
+            .then(mountutils.unmountDiskAsync)
+        })
       })
     })
   })
diff --git a/lib/gui/modules/child-writer.js b/lib/gui/modules/child-writer.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..640829e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/gui/modules/child-writer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2017 resin.io
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+'use strict'
+
+const ipc = require('node-ipc')
+const EXIT_CODES = require('../../shared/exit-codes')
+const errors = require('../../shared/errors')
+const writer = require('../../cli/writer')
+
+ipc.config.id = process.env.IPC_CLIENT_ID
+ipc.config.socketRoot = process.env.IPC_SOCKET_ROOT
+ipc.config.silent = false
+
+// > If set to 0, the client will NOT try to reconnect.
+// See https://github.com/RIAEvangelist/node-ipc/
+//
+// The purpose behind this change is for this process
+// to emit a "disconnect" event as soon as the GUI
+// process is closed, so we can kill this process as well.
+ipc.config.stopRetrying = 0
+
+const IPC_SERVER_ID = process.env.IPC_SERVER_ID
+
+/**
+ * @summary Send a log debug message to the IPC server
+ * @function
+ * @private
+ *
+ * @param {String} message - message
+ *
+ * @example
+ * log('Hello world!')
+ */
+const log = (message) => {
+  ipc.of[IPC_SERVER_ID].emit('log', message)
+}
+
+/**
+ * @summary Terminate the child writer process
+ * @function
+ * @private
+ *
+ * @param {Number} [code=0] - exit code
+ *
+ * @example
+ * terminate(1)
+ */
+const terminate = (code) => {
+  ipc.disconnect(IPC_SERVER_ID)
+  process.exit(code || EXIT_CODES.SUCCESS)
+}
+
+/**
+ * @summary Handle a child writer error
+ * @function
+ * @private
+ *
+ * @param {Error} error - error
+ *
+ * @example
+ * handleError(new Error('Something bad happened!'))
+ */
+const handleError = (error) => {
+  ipc.of[IPC_SERVER_ID].emit('error', errors.toJSON(error))
+  terminate(EXIT_CODES.GENERAL_ERROR)
+}
+
+ipc.connectTo(IPC_SERVER_ID, () => {
+  process.once('uncaughtException', handleError)
+
+  // Gracefully exit on the following cases. If the parent
+  // process detects that child exit successfully but
+  // no flashing information is available, then it will
+  // assume that the child died halfway through.
+
+  process.once('SIGINT', () => {
+    terminate(EXIT_CODES.SUCCESS)
+  })
+  process.once('SIGTERM', () => {
+    terminate(EXIT_CODES.SUCCESS)
+  })
+
+  // The IPC server failed. Abort.
+  ipc.of[IPC_SERVER_ID].on('error', () => {
+    terminate(EXIT_CODES.SUCCESS)
+  })
+
+  // The IPC server was disconnected. Abort.
+  ipc.of[IPC_SERVER_ID].on('disconnect', () => {
+    terminate(EXIT_CODES.SUCCESS)
+  })
+
+  ipc.of[IPC_SERVER_ID].on('connect', () => {
+    log(`Successfully connected to IPC server: ${IPC_SERVER_ID}, socket root ${ipc.config.socketRoot}`)
+    log(`Image: ${process.env.OPTION_IMAGE}`)
+    log(`Device: ${process.env.OPTION_DEVICE}`)
+
+    // These come as strings containing 0 or 1. We need to convert
+    // them to numbers first, and then to booleans, otherwise something
+    // like `Boolean('0')` will be `true`
+    const unmountOnSuccess = Boolean(Number(process.env.OPTION_UNMOUNT))
+    const validateWriteOnSuccess = Boolean(Number(process.env.OPTION_VALIDATE))
+    log(`Umount on success: ${unmountOnSuccess}`)
+    log(`Validate on success: ${validateWriteOnSuccess}`)
+
+    writer.writeImage(process.env.OPTION_IMAGE, process.env.OPTION_DEVICE, {
+      unmountOnSuccess,
+      validateWriteOnSuccess
+    }, (state) => {
+      ipc.of[IPC_SERVER_ID].emit('state', state)
+    }).then((results) => {
+      ipc.of[IPC_SERVER_ID].emit('done', results)
+      terminate(EXIT_CODES.SUCCESS)
+    }).catch(handleError)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/lib/gui/modules/image-writer.js b/lib/gui/modules/image-writer.js
index f47e34c2..3e4ba83d 100644
--- a/lib/gui/modules/image-writer.js
+++ b/lib/gui/modules/image-writer.js
@@ -18,12 +18,40 @@
 
 const Bluebird = require('bluebird')
 const _ = require('lodash')
-const childWriter = require('../../child-writer')
+const path = require('path')
+const os = require('os')
+const ipc = require('node-ipc')
+const isRunningInAsar = require('electron-is-running-in-asar')
+const electron = require('electron')
 const settings = require('../models/settings')
 const flashState = require('../../shared/models/flash-state')
 const errors = require('../../shared/errors')
+const permissions = require('../../shared/permissions')
 const windowProgress = require('../os/window-progress')
 const analytics = require('../modules/analytics')
+const packageJSON = require('../../../package.json')
+
+/**
+ * @summary Get application entry point
+ * @function
+ * @private
+ *
+ * @returns {String} entry point
+ *
+ * @example
+ * const entryPoint = imageWriter.getApplicationEntryPoint()
+ */
+const getApplicationEntryPoint = () => {
+  if (isRunningInAsar()) {
+    return path.join(process.resourcesPath, 'app.asar')
+  }
+
+  const ENTRY_POINT_ARGV_INDEX = 1
+  const relativeEntryPoint = electron.remote.process.argv[ENTRY_POINT_ARGV_INDEX]
+
+  const PROJECT_ROOT = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..')
+  return path.join(PROJECT_ROOT, relativeEntryPoint)
+}
 
 /**
  * @summary Perform write operation
@@ -48,14 +76,134 @@ const analytics = require('../modules/analytics')
  * })
  */
 exports.performWrite = (image, drive, onProgress) => {
-  return new Bluebird((resolve, reject) => {
-    const child = childWriter.write(image, drive, {
-      validateWriteOnSuccess: settings.get('validateWriteOnSuccess'),
-      unmountOnSuccess: settings.get('unmountOnSuccess')
+  // There might be multiple Etcher instances running at
+  // the same time, therefore we must ensure each IPC
+  // server/client has a different name.
+  const IPC_SERVER_ID = `etcher-server-${process.pid}`
+  const IPC_CLIENT_ID = `etcher-client-${process.pid}`
+
+  ipc.config.id = IPC_SERVER_ID
+  ipc.config.socketRoot = path.join(process.env.XDG_RUNTIME_DIR || os.tmpdir(), path.sep)
+  ipc.config.silent = true
+  ipc.serve()
+
+  /**
+   * @summary Safely terminate the IPC server
+   * @function
+   * @private
+   *
+   * @example
+   * terminateServer()
+   */
+  const terminateServer = () => {
+    // Turns out we need to destroy all sockets for
+    // the server to actually close. Otherwise, it
+    // just stops receiving any further connections,
+    // but remains open if there are active ones.
+    _.each(ipc.server.sockets, (socket) => {
+      socket.destroy()
     })
-    child.on('error', reject)
-    child.on('done', resolve)
-    child.on('progress', onProgress)
+
+    ipc.server.stop()
+  }
+
+  return new Bluebird((resolve, reject) => {
+    ipc.server.on('error', (error) => {
+      terminateServer()
+      const errorObject = _.isError(error) ? error : errors.fromJSON(error)
+      reject(errorObject)
+    })
+
+    ipc.server.on('log', (message) => {
+      console.log(message)
+    })
+
+    const flashResults = {}
+    ipc.server.on('done', (results) => {
+      _.merge(flashResults, results)
+    })
+
+    ipc.server.on('state', onProgress)
+
+    const argv = _.attempt(() => {
+      const entryPoint = getApplicationEntryPoint()
+
+      // AppImages run over FUSE, so the files inside the mount point
+      // can only be accessed by the user that mounted the AppImage.
+      // This means we can't re-spawn Etcher as root from the same
+      // mount-point, and as a workaround, we re-mount the original
+      // AppImage as root.
+      if (os.platform() === 'linux' && process.env.APPIMAGE && process.env.APPDIR) {
+        return [
+          process.env.APPIMAGE,
+
+          // Executing the AppImage with ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE opens
+          // the Node.js REPL without loading the default entry point.
+          // As a workaround, we can pass the path to the file we want
+          // to load, relative to the usr/ directory of the mounted
+          // AppImage.
+          _.replace(entryPoint, path.join(process.env.APPDIR, 'usr/'), '')
+        ]
+      }
+
+      return [
+        _.first(process.argv),
+        entryPoint
+      ]
+    })
+
+    ipc.server.on('start', () => {
+      console.log(`Elevating command: ${_.join(argv, ' ')}`)
+
+      permissions.elevateCommand(argv, {
+        applicationName: packageJSON.displayName,
+        environment: {
+          IPC_SERVER_ID,
+          IPC_CLIENT_ID,
+          IPC_SOCKET_ROOT: ipc.config.socketRoot,
+          ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE: 1,
+
+          // Casting to Number nicely converts booleans to 0 or 1.
+          OPTION_VALIDATE: Number(settings.get('validateWriteOnSuccess')),
+          OPTION_UNMOUNT: Number(settings.get('unmountOnSuccess')),
+
+          OPTION_IMAGE: image,
+          OPTION_DEVICE: drive.device,
+
+          // This environment variable prevents the AppImages
+          // desktop integration script from presenting the
+          // "installation" dialog
+          SKIP: 1
+        }
+      }).then((results) => {
+        flashResults.cancelled = results.cancelled
+        console.log('Flash results', flashResults)
+
+        // This likely means the child died halfway through
+        if (!flashResults.cancelled && !flashResults.bytesWritten) {
+          throw errors.createUserError({
+            title: 'The writer process ended unexpectedly',
+            description: 'Please try again, and contact the Etcher team if the problem persists',
+            code: 'ECHILDDIED'
+          })
+        }
+
+        return resolve(flashResults)
+      }).catch((error) => {
+        // This happens when the child is killed using SIGKILL
+        const SIGKILL_EXIT_CODE = 137
+        if (error.code === SIGKILL_EXIT_CODE) {
+          error.code = 'ECHILDDIED'
+        }
+
+        return reject(error)
+      }).finally(() => {
+        console.log('Terminating IPC server')
+        terminateServer()
+      })
+    })
+
+    ipc.server.start()
   })
 }
 
@@ -116,6 +264,8 @@ exports.flash = (image, drive) => {
       analytics.logEvent('Input/output error', analyticsData)
     } else if (error.code === 'ENOSPC') {
       analytics.logEvent('Out of space', analyticsData)
+    } else if (error.code === 'ECHILDDIED') {
+      analytics.logEvent('Child died unexpectedly', analyticsData)
     } else {
       analytics.logEvent('Flash error', _.merge({
         error: errors.toJSON(error)
diff --git a/lib/gui/pages/main/controllers/flash.js b/lib/gui/pages/main/controllers/flash.js
index cd98b23e..62637bd9 100644
--- a/lib/gui/pages/main/controllers/flash.js
+++ b/lib/gui/pages/main/controllers/flash.js
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@ module.exports = function (
         FlashErrorModalService.show(messages.error.inputOutput())
       } else if (error.code === 'ENOSPC') {
         FlashErrorModalService.show(messages.error.notEnoughSpaceInDrive())
+      } else if (error.code === 'ECHILDDIED') {
+        FlashErrorModalService.show(messages.error.childWriterDied())
       } else {
         FlashErrorModalService.show(messages.error.genericFlashError())
         exceptionReporter.report(error)
diff --git a/lib/shared/messages.js b/lib/shared/messages.js
index 45a50907..6dadf11a 100644
--- a/lib/shared/messages.js
+++ b/lib/shared/messages.js
@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@ module.exports = {
       'Looks like Etcher is not able to write to this location of the drive.',
       'This error is usually caused by a faulty drive, reader, or port.',
       '\n\nPlease try again with another drive, reader, or port.'
+    ].join(' ')),
+
+    childWriterDied: _.template([
+      'The writer process ended unexpectedly.',
+      'Please try again, and contact the Etcher team if the problem persists.'
     ].join(' '))
 
   }
diff --git a/lib/shared/models/flash-state.js b/lib/shared/models/flash-state.js
index f7b29a1f..37479f51 100644
--- a/lib/shared/models/flash-state.js
+++ b/lib/shared/models/flash-state.js
@@ -118,7 +118,9 @@ exports.setProgressState = (state) => {
     type: store.Actions.SET_FLASH_STATE,
     data: {
       type: state.type,
-      percentage: state.percentage,
+      percentage: _.isNumber(state.percentage) && !_.isNaN(state.percentage)
+        ? Math.floor(state.percentage)
+        : state.percentage,
       eta: state.eta,
 
       speed: _.attempt(() => {
diff --git a/lib/shared/permissions.js b/lib/shared/permissions.js
index 80d99987..ef246e2b 100644
--- a/lib/shared/permissions.js
+++ b/lib/shared/permissions.js
@@ -205,6 +205,13 @@ exports.elevateCommand = (command, options) => {
       title: 'Your user doesn\'t have enough privileges to proceed',
       description: 'This application requires sudo privileges to be able to write to drives'
     })
+  }).catch((error) => {
+    return _.startsWith(error.message, 'Command failed:')
+  }, (error) => {
+    throw errors.createUserError({
+      title: 'The elevated process died unexpectedly',
+      description: `The process error code was ${error.code}`
+    })
   }).catch({
     message: 'User did not grant permission.'
   }, () => {
diff --git a/lib/shared/robot/README.md b/lib/shared/robot/README.md
index 2925b27e..8930098d 100644
--- a/lib/shared/robot/README.md
+++ b/lib/shared/robot/README.md
@@ -1,17 +1,8 @@
 The "robot" mechanism
 =====================
 
-As discussed in [`lib/child-writer`][child-writer], communication between the
-main Etcher application and its elevated writer process happens through an IPC
-(Inter Process Communication) channel. In a nutshell, we emit every single line
-that the writer process prints to the parent as a "message". Since these
-"lines" need to convey non-trivial information such as progress information,
-speed, final computer checksums, etc we are in need of a basic form of a
-"protocol".
-
-The "robot" module is the entity that implements this protocol, and provides
-utility functions to read/send messages using the protocol targeted at both
-parties (the client and the writer processes).
+The "robot" module is an entity that implements a text-based protocol to share
+objects between processes.
 
 The contents and structure of these messages is what the "robot" module is
 mainly concerned with. Each "message" consists of a type (a "command" in robot
@@ -139,4 +130,3 @@ original error, even if this was created in another process. This is how the
 writer process propagates informational errors to the GUI.
 
 [xz-man]: https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=xz&sektion=1&manpath=FreeBSD+8.3-RELEASE
-[child-writer]: https://github.com/resin-io/etcher/tree/master/lib/child-writer
diff --git a/lib/start.js b/lib/start.js
index 4462945e..32f470d6 100644
--- a/lib/start.js
+++ b/lib/start.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 // an older equivalent of `ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE` that still gets set when
 // using `child_process.fork()`.
 if (process.env.ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE || process.env.ATOM_SHELL_INTERNAL_RUN_AS_NODE) {
-  require('./cli/etcher')
+  require('./gui/modules/child-writer')
 } else {
   require('./gui/etcher')
 }
diff --git a/tests/child-writer/cli.spec.js b/tests/child-writer/cli.spec.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 344fe0e6..00000000
--- a/tests/child-writer/cli.spec.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,110 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-const m = require('mochainon')
-const cli = require('../../lib/child-writer/cli')
-
-describe('ChildWriter CLI', function () {
-  describe('.getBooleanArgumentForm()', function () {
-    it('should prepend --no if the value is false and option is long', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getBooleanArgumentForm('foo', false)).to.equal('--no-foo')
-    })
-
-    it('should prepend -- if the value is true and option is long', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getBooleanArgumentForm('foo', true)).to.equal('--foo')
-    })
-
-    it('should prepend --no if the value is false and option is short', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getBooleanArgumentForm('x', false)).to.equal('--no-x')
-    })
-
-    it('should prepend - if the value is true and option is short', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getBooleanArgumentForm('x', true)).to.equal('-x')
-    })
-  })
-
-  describe('.getArguments()', function () {
-    it('should return a list of arguments given validate = false, unmount = false', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getArguments({
-        image: 'path/to/image.img',
-        device: '/dev/disk2',
-        entryPoint: 'path/to/app.asar',
-        validateWriteOnSuccess: false,
-        unmountOnSuccess: false
-      })).to.deep.equal([
-        'path/to/app.asar',
-        'path/to/image.img',
-        '--drive',
-        '/dev/disk2',
-        '--no-unmount',
-        '--no-check'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should return a list of arguments given validate = false, unmount = true', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getArguments({
-        image: 'path/to/image.img',
-        device: '/dev/disk2',
-        entryPoint: 'path/to/app.asar',
-        validateWriteOnSuccess: false,
-        unmountOnSuccess: true
-      })).to.deep.equal([
-        'path/to/app.asar',
-        'path/to/image.img',
-        '--drive',
-        '/dev/disk2',
-        '--unmount',
-        '--no-check'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should return a list of arguments given validate = true, unmount = false', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getArguments({
-        image: 'path/to/image.img',
-        device: '/dev/disk2',
-        entryPoint: 'path/to/app.asar',
-        validateWriteOnSuccess: true,
-        unmountOnSuccess: false
-      })).to.deep.equal([
-        'path/to/app.asar',
-        'path/to/image.img',
-        '--drive',
-        '/dev/disk2',
-        '--no-unmount',
-        '--check'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should return a list of arguments given validate = true, unmount = true', function () {
-      m.chai.expect(cli.getArguments({
-        image: 'path/to/image.img',
-        device: '/dev/disk2',
-        entryPoint: 'path/to/app.asar',
-        validateWriteOnSuccess: true,
-        unmountOnSuccess: true
-      })).to.deep.equal([
-        'path/to/app.asar',
-        'path/to/image.img',
-        '--drive',
-        '/dev/disk2',
-        '--unmount',
-        '--check'
-      ])
-    })
-  })
-})
diff --git a/tests/child-writer/utils.spec.js b/tests/child-writer/utils.spec.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 5f6eaef0..00000000
--- a/tests/child-writer/utils.spec.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2016 resin.io
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict'
-
-const m = require('mochainon')
-const utils = require('../../lib/child-writer/utils')
-
-describe('ChildWriter Utils', function () {
-  describe('.splitObjectLines()', function () {
-    it('should split multiple object lines', function () {
-      const input = '{"id":"foo"}\n{"id":"bar"}\n{"id":"baz"}'
-      m.chai.expect(utils.splitObjectLines(input)).to.deep.equal([
-        '{"id":"foo"}',
-        '{"id":"bar"}',
-        '{"id":"baz"}'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should ignore spaces in between', function () {
-      const input = '{"id":"foo"}   \n     {"id":"bar"}\n   {"id":"baz"}'
-      m.chai.expect(utils.splitObjectLines(input)).to.deep.equal([
-        '{"id":"foo"}',
-        '{"id":"bar"}',
-        '{"id":"baz"}'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should ignore multiple new lines', function () {
-      const input = '{"id":"foo"}\n\n\n\n{"id":"bar"}\n\n{"id":"baz"}'
-      m.chai.expect(utils.splitObjectLines(input)).to.deep.equal([
-        '{"id":"foo"}',
-        '{"id":"bar"}',
-        '{"id":"baz"}'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should ignore new lines inside properties', function () {
-      const input = '{"id":"foo\nbar"}\n{"id":"\nhello\n"}'
-      m.chai.expect(utils.splitObjectLines(input)).to.deep.equal([
-        '{"id":"foo\nbar"}',
-        '{"id":"\nhello\n"}'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should handle carriage returns', function () {
-      const input = '{"id":"foo"}\r\n{"id":"bar"}\r\n{"id":"baz"}'
-      m.chai.expect(utils.splitObjectLines(input)).to.deep.equal([
-        '{"id":"foo"}',
-        '{"id":"bar"}',
-        '{"id":"baz"}'
-      ])
-    })
-
-    it('should ignore multiple carriage returns', function () {
-      const input = '{"id":"foo"}\r\n\r\n{"id":"bar"}\r\n\r\n\r\n{"id":"baz"}'
-      m.chai.expect(utils.splitObjectLines(input)).to.deep.equal([
-        '{"id":"foo"}',
-        '{"id":"bar"}',
-        '{"id":"baz"}'
-      ])
-    })
-  })
-})
diff --git a/tests/shared/models/flash-state.spec.js b/tests/shared/models/flash-state.spec.js
index ceaba748..1ba752c2 100644
--- a/tests/shared/models/flash-state.spec.js
+++ b/tests/shared/models/flash-state.spec.js
@@ -233,6 +233,18 @@ describe('Model: flashState', function () {
           })
         }).to.not.throw('Missing state speed')
       })
+
+      it('should floor the percentage number', function () {
+        flashState.setFlashingFlag()
+        flashState.setProgressState({
+          type: 'write',
+          percentage: 50.253559459485,
+          eta: 15,
+          speed: 0
+        })
+
+        m.chai.expect(flashState.getFlashState().percentage).to.equal(50)
+      })
     })
 
     describe('.getFlashResults()', function () {